Download IDCam User Manual

IDCam
User Manual
DI (FH) Tobias Däuber, dbnetsoft
An der Ache 62, 83483 Bischofswiesen, Germany
[email protected], www.dbnetsoft.com
Inhalt
Overview ............................................................................................................ 3
Software requirements ...................................................................................... 3
Sport-specific requirements ............................................................................... 3
Camera requirements ........................................................................................ 4
Connection setup ............................................................................................... 5
Transponder ................................................................................................... 5
Memory ......................................................................................................... 6
Software overview ............................................................................................. 7
Timing setup................................................................................................... 8
Software setup ............................................................................................... 9
Basics ............................................................................................................... 11
2
Frame recording ........................................................................................... 11
Evaluation marker matching ........................................................................ 12
Keyboard navigation .................................................................................... 12
IDCam – User Manual
Overview
IDCam provides a reliable yet simple backup solution to make sure that the
order of finish is correct. The software can be used on virtually any sport with a
common finish line (primarily to be used on mass start events, but also
individual start events benefit). Images from a camera are recorded
automatically upon every crossing of the finish line. These images are
overlapped with bib identifications from a timing device. The mapping of image
and bib can be evaluated visually in order to identify missing detections and
bibs.
Software requirements
IDCam runs on all computers with Windows XP or higher (Windows 7
recommended). The computer should have a reasonable modern CPU (at least
two cores) and a fast hard drive. The faster the CPU and hard drive, the more
frames can be recorded per second that allows better identification.
3
Sport-specific requirements
IDCam blends into the commonly used existing sports-timing setup. The
following requirements are a recommendation on how you best use the
software:
Lightbeam at the finish line that gets triggered at every crossing
Timing device that receives the impulses
The same timing device can do the identification of each impulse (e.g.
memory mode on TdC8000) or
Identification of each passing is done by a transponder system
Compatible camera that is positioned behind the finish line and facing
the full width of the finish line
IDCam – User Manual
Camera requirements
IDCam supports virtually all cameras that can be access via one of the following
paradigms:
Networking camera that supports
o Motion JPEG stream or
o static JPEG image generation
Built-in webcams or USB webcams that support DirectShow
4
IDCam – User Manual
Connection setup
Two different setup variations exist. Please note, that the computer running
IDCam is new to your existing timing setup and it is not replacing connections
to your existing evaluation software. Therefore you need to make sure that
both computers receive the information it needs. It is fairly easy using network,
but can require more thinking when using RS232 connections (splitters, media
converters, …)
Transponder
Lightbeam is connected to a timing device. The only task for the timing device
is to forward lightbeam impulses to IDCam that will then record frames upon
each crossing. A transponder system is either connected directly to IDCam or
via a computer in the middle that moderates between decoder, IDCam and
evaluation software. This is the setup variation that this manual will focus on.
5
Impulse device
photocell,
pushbutton,
tapeswitch, …
Timing device
TdC, Timy, S4, …
Transponder
Evaluation software
Timing connection (RS232, USB, ethernet)
Transponder connection (RS232, ethernet)
IDCam
IDCam – User Manual
Memory
Lightbeam is connected to a timing device. The timing device operate in
memory mode: It is forwarding each lightbeam impulse to IDCam that will then
record frames upon each crossing. Also, the timing device will be used for
assigning memory impulses to bibs, these bibs will also be sent to IDCam. The
timing device is also connected to the evaluation software for sending the bibs
to it.
Impulse device
photocell,
pushbutton,
tapeswitch, …
TdC
Split with Memory
mode
Evaluation software
Time.NET 2, ...
Timing connection (RS232)
6
IDCam
IDCam – User Manual
Software overview
7
Camera previews: Shows live images from every connected camera
Log: Shows log messages and also received record and evaluation marker
Competition: Shows the current amount of frames in memory buffer and
the frames that still need to be recorded to disk, also allows to manage
competitions
Recordings: Shows all markers and the current selected frame and allows
to modify or search for markers
IDCam – User Manual
Timing setup
8
Record channel: Defines the channel on which a lightbeam impulse is
registered. Impulses on this channel are added to so-called “record
markers” including the time-of-day and trigger a recording.
Evaluation marker: Defines the channel on which identified bibs are
reported. Impulses on this channel are added to so-called “evaluation
markers” including the time-of-day and bib and are used for overlapping
with recordings.
Timing devices: If using memory mode, only one TdC 8000 should be
defined, otherwise the timing device that is connected to lightbeam and
the transponder system should be specified.
Timy Usb: Also a Timy that is connected via USB to the computer can be
used for being connected to the lightbeam.
IDCam – User Manual
Software setup
9
Pre record time: Frames are stored in memory (memory buffer) as long
as they are not older than defined here. All frames in buffer will be
recorded to disk once a record marker is received. Therefore also frames
that happened earlier than the lightbeam crossing are recorded for
convenience.
Post record time: Defines how long a recording takes place after a record
marker is received.
Show last record immediately: If checked, the software will jump
automatically to the latest lightbeam crossing.
Matching evaluation interval: Defines the interval, in which an evaluation
marker needs to be round a record marker, in order to be considered
belonging to this frame.
Arrival direction: Defines whether arrival is from left or right, which has
impact on the keyboard shortcuts for navigation back and forth in time.
Webcams: Defines a list of cameras that should be used.
o Camera type: Select a supported type (recommended is Axis)
depending on your camera
o For Axis, motion JPEG and static JPEG cameras, the camera’s IP
address and credentials need to be entered.
IDCam – User Manual
o For DirectShow cameras, the device itself needs to be picked from
the list
Frame time offset: Consumer cameras usually have a slight delay on
generating and sending the frames. This delay can be compensated with
this offset (for Axis a value of -0.4 seconds should be used in order to
have the time-of-day match more precisely)
10
IDCam – User Manual
Basics
Frame recording
Frames are retrieved from the camera at all times, but only some of them are
stored on disk. This happens when a record marker is received, which is usually
done when crossing the lightbeam on the finish line.
Frames recorded due to record marker/impulse
...
1
2
00:00
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Evaluation marker is visible on
00:20interval 1)
frame 5,6, and 7 (matching marker
11
Evaluation
marker bib 5,
timestamp 6
Frames that are currently in memory buffer are recorded to disk and also
frames that arrive within the post record time after the record marker.
IDCam – User Manual
Evaluation marker matching
As consumer cameras in contrast to line scan cameras are not perfectly
synchronized to timing devices, an evaluation marker (bib) cannot be assigned
to exactly one frame but only to a series of frames that match around the bib’s
time-of-day.
Frames recorded due to record marker/impulse
...
1
2
3
00:00
4
5
6
7
8
9
Evaluation marker is visible on
00:20interval 1)
frame 5,6, and 7 (matching marker
12
Evaluation
marker bib 5,
timestamp 6
Whenever you select and see a frame in the Recordings window, all matching
evaluation marker to this frame will be shown.
Keyboard navigation
IDCam is best used with keyboard shortcuts. Most of them are display in the
bottom of the recordings window.
Pressing and holding F8 records the current frame to disk (not taking
memory frames or post record frames, just the ones that arrive while
pressing F8)
IDCam – User Manual
Press F9 and release is treated like a lightbeam impulse and also records
pre and post record frames
By using left and right arrow key, one can navigate back and forth
individual frames. When having setup the correct order of arrival in the
settings menu, left and right match to the expected navigation either
forward or backward in time.
Up and down arrows navigate from one evaluation marker to the next or
previous.
Page up and down are the most important ones, as they allow navigation
between record markers. During competition, the operator simply jumps
from record marker to record marker and visually checks if all athletes
are tagged with the correct evaluation marker.
Pressing space enables or disables the jump to last record marker on new
impulse feature.
13
IDCam – User Manual
When using a keyboard with a numeric block (which is highly recommended),
one can use the following shortcuts for an even better experience by only using
the keypad:
Num lock
14
/
*
(needs to be
always on)
7
Press and hold
recording (F8)
8
Focus away from
textboxes to
allow keyboard
shortcuts
9
Record marker
left
4
Last record
marker
5
Record marker
right
6
Frame left
1
Last frame
2
Frame right
3
Evaluation marker Last evaluation
left
marker
0 (Paste)
Evaluation marker
right
, (Delete)
Toggles “jump to last record marker
immediately”
Toggles “jump to
last record
marker and stay
there”
IDCam – User Manual
-
(unused)
+
Brings up dialog
for adding
missingevaluation
marker at current
frame position
Enter
15
IDCam – User Manual
16
DI (FH) Tobias Däuber, dbnetsoft
An der Ache 62, 83483 Bischofswiesen, Germany
[email protected], www.dbnetsoft.com
IDCam – User Manual